Page 112 of Tribute
Kai stood and Rehz grabbed his arm, holding him back. “Listen, if I die, you’ll stop Anna from doing anything stupid, won’t you?”
“Like what?”
“Going back intoUngrichspace.”
Kai’s eyes narrowed. “Why the fuck would she do that?”
Rehz tightened his grip. “Because she thinks they have her offspring. Don’t let her go in there, okay?”
“I promise I’ll do my best. But she’s one determined female.” Kai met his gaze, all the humor wiped away from his expression. “And you’ll kill Aled if I can’t, right?”
“Yes.”
Kai bent his head and brushed his mouth over Rehz’s. “Good hunting, my friend.”
“You too. I promised Anna Palk’s head and balls on a plate, so I’d better get on that.”
Kai checked his weapon. “I’ll hand them over when I’ve killed him.”
“We’ll see about that.” He slapped Kai hard on the back and they ran for the doorway, where Bron was already shouting for them.
Anna wrapped her arms around herself and paced the room again. It wasn’t as small as she’d feared, but she still hated being trapped anywhere. It was set up like a small apartment with a well-stocked kitchen, eating area, and soft couches grouped around a black vidscreen that was currently turned off.
Having already explored the rest of the place, Anna knew there were three bedrooms, an armory, and a huge storage areafilled with foodstuffs and protective gear. It was one hell of a secure space, but it still made her feel uneasy. This far below the surface, sound was reduced to dull thumps and echoes that set her senses straining and her nerves jumping.
“Here.” Aled came up behind her and put a thick jacket around her shoulders. “I found these in the storeroom. It’s colder down here.”
She slid her arms into the sleeves and let him button her into the jacket. “I hate this.”
“Yeah.”
“I want to be out there killing Palk, but I’m also terrified of being captured.”
“Yeah.” Aled stepped back, his expression rueful. “Neither of us are used to being babysat.” Something in her face made him catch her hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s okay. I’m just a bit sensitive about the baby thing.” She tried to force a smile as the lights above their heads flickered. She was a bit sensitive about everything at the moment, to be honest, but Aled didn’t need to be spooked any further.
“Do you really think theUngrichmanaged to create something?” he asked slowly.
To her surprise, she was willing to talk to him about it. He was the only person shecouldtalk about it with.
“I don’t know. I just have a sense of . . .somethinghappening to me just before they ejected me from their space. Some kind of loss.”
He walked her over to the couch and sat down with her. “If I let myself be caught, I could find out for you.”
She scowled at him. “And Kai Mexr would kill me. I don’t expect you to do that, Aled.”
“But it might be my child as well.” He hesitated. “I fucked you almost the whole time we were there. The odds are in my favor.”
“I know, but it’s still my responsibility.”
Aled’s blue-gray eyes narrowed. “You’re not thinking about going back in there yourself, are you?” He sighed. “Hell, youare,aren’t you? If you do that on my watch, Rehz Akran will eviscerate me.”
“If I end up back there, both Rehz and Kai will probably be dead.”
Aled took a deep breath. “So if that happens, and we’re left unprotected, how about webothgo back? It’s that, or we agree to kill each other, because I’m not letting you go alone.”
She stared at him and saw no weakness and no hint of compromise. TheUngrichhad taken him and refined him into an intimidating man. “I can’t stop you coming, can I? But I don’t want Rehz and Kai to have to die so we can go.”
